Randolph Riedlinger becomes the 33rd International President in ...

Issue Nr.5 2008:Layout 1 18.03.2008 13:56 Seite 26
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I have decided to write an article
for The Hinge. It will be a story of
how I came to work with an orphanage
in Campulung-Muscel in Romania
.
My first trip to Romania was in
2002 where Karin and I travelled
to Brasov to attend the 41 International
AGM. Our President back
then was Sam Sampath from India
and I was the 41 International Vice
President .
I met a lot of wonderful people
when attending this meeting. Some
I knew from earlier on but also I
met many new friends, and in relation
to this article I must mention
Camelia and Mihai Ponova.
It was revealed to me that Camelia
works as a psychologist at an orphanage
in Campulung-Muscel.
In my profession I have worked
with people in many different
places. As in nursing homes, in
athletic associations as well as in
my own clinics.
I had an interest in seeing an orphanage
and I was kindly invited
by Camelia and her husband.
There were many handicapped
children who got all
the help they needed from
the staff in relation to
warmth and love and tender
care. But also it was obvious
to me that too many children
were there, and the
conditions they had were
poor since they had very little
money to spend on the
children.
I was told that there were
fewer children compared to
what they used to have
The orphanage
under the regime of Ceausescu, but
the problem
was to find
clothes, and to
find the money
to buy proper
food to secure
the children a
proper diet.
Also the facilities
of the
kitchen and the
rooms for physiotherapy
and
other treat
ments were not
in any way up to
the standard
you see
elsewhere.
I travelled back
home after the
meeting, and
during my flight
I constantly
thought about
this orphanage
and what I had
seen.
Michael Dalbo Pedersen, Past International
President and Mihai Ponova, Past President
Romania 41
AGM,. Gloucester GB 23rd - 26th April 2009
The director of the orphanage and
Father Christmas
I had never thought
about helping or supporting
an orphanage.
Slowly it appeared to
me that I should do
something since I
could do something.
Then I brushed aside
the thought. What
could I do as a single
person? I got mad at
myself since this obvious
was just a bad
excuse. Anyway I
started to act.
I started to collect
clothes from my